Before you rent, you’re going to have to pay a deposit. This is effectively a downpayment that is there to take care of the costs of any necessary repairs or replacements when you leave. A lot of tenants aren’t going to get that full deposit back, and it’s not always for a good reason. If you want to make sure that you get your entire deposit back, here are a few ways to secure it.

Read your agreement

Before you rent, you should make sure that you take the time to read your rental agreement. In particular, look at your responsibilities in terms of furniture, fixtures, and other items. Get to know exactly what you are responsible for and what the landlord is responsible for. Similarly, learn what redecorations are allowed, as making changes that go beyond the agreement can cost you.

Know everything in the home

It’s all too easy, in the course of a year, to forget what was in the home when you first moved in. Your landlord or rental agency is going to have taken photos around the place before you moved in, so you should do the same. Complete a full home inventory, as well as capturing evidence of the condition of the carpets, walls, doors, and any other fixtures. This way, you have proof that everything is where it should be and in roughly the same condition as when you moved in.

Scour for any damages

After you’ve performed a deep clean of the home, it’s time to look around for any damages you might have left. Even things as simple as a scuff on the wall can be the opportunity the landlord needs to withhold your money. Be sure to replace lightbulbs, fix any door issues, and even table or chair legs that might be wobbly.

Watch out for odors

Even fi there is no physical damage to anything in the home, you should be mindful of how odors that you might be used to can cling to fabrics. The single biggest risk factor here is smoking. It might be worth switching to the vape juice if you’re otherwise going to have to pay to replace carpets and curtains that smell like cigarette smoke. If there are any other odors that you could be concerned about, have a plan to clean them out.

Demand photos of any replacements

If your landlord does tell you that some items or fixtures need to be replaced, you should make sure that you follow up on it. Ask for photos of the replacements that they put in with the money taken from your deposit. It is not entirely unheard of for landlords to withhold a deposit and not be strictly honest about the reasons that they’re doing it. Calling their bluff can see you getting your money back from them.

 

With the tips above, you should hopefully be able to avoid all the usual traps that can see you losing some or even all of your deposit.